FLORENCE — A new housing development was approved for Florence that breaks the mold in recent housing approvals.
The city’s planning commission unanimously approved a sketch plan for a 39-home subdivision at its August meeting.
The lots will be off of West Lake Drive and part of South Dunes Drive on what was the Palms Golf Course, according to Derek Johnston, a planner with the city.
An old Florence golf course will soon be the home of a new subdivision.
Deirdre Weaver-Currin/Staff
The subdivided lots will be developed on a 56.23 acre parcel, according to commission documents.
“These are generous sized lots,” Commissioner Xavier Sams said at the commission meeting.
Water is available to the property, but sewer is not, according to Johnston. Septic tanks will need to be installed once homes are built, he said.
The project will be called The Palms Subdivision and be a conventional, single-family type development — something the city has seen less of lately.
The development first came before planning commission in 2023, Johnston said. That initial sketch plan proposed 179 high-density lots. Now, they’re going for something different.
“The developer is coming back with a different product than what we’ve typically seen on the market right now,” Johnston said.
At its July meeting, the council approved a 150 home subdivision on 43.9 acres of land off West Lucas Street — less land than this most recently approved subdivision has but a larger development by more than 100 lots.
The city has also seen a trend toward townhomes lately. There are currently more than 700 townhomes in various stages of development throughout the city, including some downtown.